A rare Sunday of terrestrial TV coverage for racing comes from Fakenham, Thurles and the third day of the Winter Million meeting at Windsor. GG tipster Joe Napier has picked out four runners of interest for you to follow.
1.55 Windsor – Fitzdares Great Park Handicap Chase
Given some of the ambitious entries he received earlier in the campaign, SANS BRUIT is more than likely to make a mockery of his mark of 138 at some point this season, and this race might set up well for him.
Although his highlight reel victory came when dominating from the front in the Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree last season, he could very easily be just as good taking a lead and sitting prominently. His first two runs of this campaign were highly respectable before he went off miles too fast at Kempton in the Desert Orchid Chase.
This race will see him return to soft ground, while if Martator runs, he will be 12lb better off for their meeting at Ascot with conditions more to suit. Paul Nicholls will almost certainly find the key to this seven-year-old again before the end of the jumps season
2.05 Thurles – Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (Grade 2)
Paul Townend sides with Blood Destiny, who could easily be a dark horse in Grade 1s at some point soon, but good ground raises enough of a doubt here, for all he has a good record fresh. The more experienced campaigners might make this a serious challenge for him, with all bar two of this ten-runner field in receipt of weight from the six-year-old.
Stablemate CLASSIC GETAWAY appeals as a horse who is seriously talented on his day. The nine-year-old has not quite lived up to his price tag, but is a Listed winner at this venue having easily beaten some noteworthy rivals in November 2023.
Crucially, ground conditions are set to be quicker than soft which suits Willie Mullins’ charge, as he lost his way last term on softer surfaces. Given that, he ran very creditably on his return on heavy at Tramore when his stamina only gave out late on, and the combination of trip and conditions here give him a great chance of landing Graded honours.
3.05 Windsor – Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase
After a bombastic victory at Huntingdon, Djelo is preferred to confirm form with Protektorat off level weights now, and Venetia Williams’ charge could easily prove too progressive. However, the interesting one is Irish raider JOURNEY WITH ME, who has been prolific over obstacles below Grade 1 level.
At the top table, he has form of F7F76, but below that, his figures read 11F12131, which is a useful strike rate to say the least. Those figures also show that he is not always the safest conveyance, but he has broadly jumped better on his last four starts, all of which he has navigated safely.
He is a decent price here primarily because he failed to hold his own in a seriously hot edition of the John Durkan on return in November. However, Henry De Bromhead’s charge has won on his second start in all three of his seasons over hurdles and fences, so a significant step forward seems more than likely.
3.40 Windsor – Fitzdares Windsor Stayers Handicap Chase
The two of strongest consideration are horses stepping up significantly in trip for yards who are notable for staying chasers: Zertakt for Venetia Williams and JUST OVER LAND for Sam Thomas. The latter shades the verdict as the former has a slight doubt surrounding him on soft ground.
Just Over Land is only a six-year-old, but the Thomas yard is particularly proficient at engaging their horses’ stamina from an early stage. The son of No Risk At All has run in three strong enough novice handicaps so far over fences, two of which came over the minimum trip of 2m.
His mark has remained low as a result, but while nominally his weakest run came when stepped up to 2m5½f, it looks a deliberate ploy to be moving him up so markedly in trip to 3m4½f here. Dylan Johnston’s 3lb claim is handy and he could prove too well-treated with his sprightlier legs.
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